The Seduction of 'Sex': Spolier Free Review
June 5th 2008 18:03
No true Sex and the City fan could resist seeing the movie, despite all reservations, which is precisely why I made a reservation of my own – for premium seats on the first day of screening in Australia.
I walked into the theatre with low expectations. From the clips I had seen, and storyline snippets I had read, I had a fairly good idea I was bound for disappointment. So, was I disappointed? Hard to say. The flick was basically what I had imagined it would be, so there was no great discrepancy between the reality of the film and what was anticipated. In a way, this is a good thing: it was no worse than I had predicted. On the down side: I wasn’t Carried Away.
In my heart of hearts, I had hoped that the clips were fakes; that it was all a ruse to mislead the overly-inquisitive public; that my perception of what was to come was distinctly off-kilter. I was seduced by my desire to see a fabulous addendum to a series that stuck a sharp stiletto heel clean through the frontiers of modern women’s comedy, and the expectations of modern women themselves.
Alas, it was not to be. While the film in itself is reasonably entertaining, with its orgasmic fashions and rendering of the hedonistic high-life, it lacks the kick and sass of its preceding television counterpart. To put it another way, a Cosmopolitan without the Cointreau and vodka is just pretty, flavoured water.
Unfortunately, Michael Patrick King has allowed sentimentality and a sudden sense of indulgent caution wash the grit, acerbic wit, and avant-garde audacity from the lives of characters we have both related to and been perplexed by, on countless occasions.
What is left is a dizzying whirl of hackneyed storylines, tied up neatly, with countless clichés and recycled material thrown in. The motivations of the characters are skimmed over, leaving them lacking in the depth and multiplicity they were renowned for. The dialogue is, at times, stilted, and the self-awareness of the actors inhibits their once powerful on-screen chemistry.
Along with the overwhelming product placement and gratuitous glimpse of genitalia, the film has become what scores of uninformed people claimed the series was all about. If it wasn’t for the handful of truly inspired moments, reminiscent of the humour, intelligence and innovative flair of which the original show was comprised, I may just have wound up crying into my (free) popcorn.
Michaelie Clark
Want more than foreplay? Click here for the full review of Sex and the City: The Movie
I walked into the theatre with low expectations. From the clips I had seen, and storyline snippets I had read, I had a fairly good idea I was bound for disappointment. So, was I disappointed? Hard to say. The flick was basically what I had imagined it would be, so there was no great discrepancy between the reality of the film and what was anticipated. In a way, this is a good thing: it was no worse than I had predicted. On the down side: I wasn’t Carried Away.
Sex and the City: The Movie - Image courtesy of starpulse.com
In my heart of hearts, I had hoped that the clips were fakes; that it was all a ruse to mislead the overly-inquisitive public; that my perception of what was to come was distinctly off-kilter. I was seduced by my desire to see a fabulous addendum to a series that stuck a sharp stiletto heel clean through the frontiers of modern women’s comedy, and the expectations of modern women themselves.
Alas, it was not to be. While the film in itself is reasonably entertaining, with its orgasmic fashions and rendering of the hedonistic high-life, it lacks the kick and sass of its preceding television counterpart. To put it another way, a Cosmopolitan without the Cointreau and vodka is just pretty, flavoured water.
Farewelling Carrie's apartment in style - Image courtesy of movies.about.com
Unfortunately, Michael Patrick King has allowed sentimentality and a sudden sense of indulgent caution wash the grit, acerbic wit, and avant-garde audacity from the lives of characters we have both related to and been perplexed by, on countless occasions.
What is left is a dizzying whirl of hackneyed storylines, tied up neatly, with countless clichés and recycled material thrown in. The motivations of the characters are skimmed over, leaving them lacking in the depth and multiplicity they were renowned for. The dialogue is, at times, stilted, and the self-awareness of the actors inhibits their once powerful on-screen chemistry.
The 'Sex and the City' premiere - Image courtesy of newsday.com
Along with the overwhelming product placement and gratuitous glimpse of genitalia, the film has become what scores of uninformed people claimed the series was all about. If it wasn’t for the handful of truly inspired moments, reminiscent of the humour, intelligence and innovative flair of which the original show was comprised, I may just have wound up crying into my (free) popcorn.
Michaelie Clark
Want more than foreplay? Click here for the full review of Sex and the City: The Movie
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Comment by tlcorbin
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Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Oh no!!
What is left is a dizzying whirl of hackneyed storylines, tied up neatly, with countless clichés and recycled material thrown in. The motivations of the characters are skimmed over, leaving them lacking in the depth and multiplicity they were renowned for. The dialogue is, at times, stilted, and the self-awareness of the actors inhibits their once powerful on-screen chemistry.
Say it isn't so!!
I'm seeing it tomorrow morning and in the meantime I'm going to avoid the world as I don't want to know what the hidden storyline is (what a sad life I have huh?)..
Hmm.
Tracy
Comment by Lara M
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Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I sincerely hope you won't be disappointed, but I don't think this would be in my top 300 films.
Thanks for stopping by!
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I'm feeling the pain and I honestly think you will too. If I separate the film from my feelings for Sex and the City as a whole, I can't say it has much merit. It doesn't even rate particularly highly as a chick flick.
I hope you can look at it from a different angle, but I think you will also see that it could have been a lot more. But do go and have fun, my love! If nothing else, it's an easy way to spend a couple of hours, and there are a few good moments and laughs, after all.
Fingers crossed for you!
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
We can't really help ourselves, can we? I'll have to buy it too, even though I don't feel all that compelled to watch it again, simply because I must add it to my collection!
Hopeless, the lot of us.
Michaelie
And Tracy - Good luck with your exam!!!
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Thank you for your kind commiserations. 'Tis a sad day, indeed.
On the up side, at least now I know what happens!
Ta.
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
It really is an overwhelming compulsion, isn't it? Never mind my fanatical rantings - I hope you enjoy it.
Let me know how you go, everyone.
Michaelie
Comment by AmyHuang
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Hey Jason King seemed to like it, and he is a BOY! LOL I opted for Narnia instead when we went to the cinemas yesterday. Sorry Michaelie!
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Well, I think Narnia was probably a better option, though people who don't know the show inside out, like you and Jason, would probably like the movie more than those than do. Otherwise you can't help having extraodinarily high expectations that Hollywood just can't meet!
Hope you liked Prince Caspian, and thanks for dropping by!
Comment by Morgan Bell
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i remember the first time i saw the movie of MASH (i know it preceded the TV series but i was a fan of the TV series first) and i was disappointed because it was so different . . . but after awhile i started to like it or what it was, a different format
oh and the sixth season of Northern Exposure seemed really wrong because it was this weird extension by a different creative team without the main character . . . it felt so foreign, but i eventually warmed to it too
time heals all wounds!
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
However.
I do not think time will heal what is wrong with this movie. In fact I think as the hype wears off and the fashions fade, it will only start to decompose...
But you know what? They've made millions off it already, the sequels are definitely going to follow, and I'm going to be just as desperate to see them as well.
AND I will probably buy the book. And the DVD in all releases. I'll just keep on stabbing myself in the eye.
Sigh.
I wonder what part of the grieving process I'm in at the moment? I hope I make it to acceptance.
Michaelie